Lifestyles - Religion

It's Pastor Appreciation Month

By Monica von Steinman

For the Journal-Advocate

Posted:
10/05/2017 09:14:54 PM MDT

Pastors work odd hours.

I should probably introduce myself. I am Monica. What is my job? Wife, mother, master of the kitchen, slayer of monsters, queen of the laundry pile. You name it, I end up doing it. I have managed group homes, day cares, worked in nursing homes and hospitals, small movie theaters, fitness clubs, and community charities. However the most important and interesting part of my never dull life is pastor's wife.

Monica von Steinman For the Journal-Advocate

I grew up in the church. While adults were having potlucks and meetings I was playing Hide and Seek upstairs in the church with my friends. There was this amazing hiding spot under the pulpit! None of my friends ever found that spot and I never told! Sliding under the pews to see who could get to the front fastest! One time I took off from our preschool area and ran upstairs to see my dad, who was a pastor. Instead of finding him I found a funeral director opening a casket for a funeral a bit later in the day. That was the last time I ran off from preschool to find my dad! It creeped this 3 year old out!

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When I was small it always bothered me that my dad was never home. Why? Because he was helping everyone else. I told myself from early on I will NEVER marry a pastor. Boy, did I ever learn. God has this amazing sense of humor. He has an amazing life planned for you if you take the time to stop planning every move on your own and ask for his guidance and control.

Every pastor is a shepherd to his congregation, and his community. He preaches, offers the sacraments, teaches, visits the sick, the lost, the hurt. He takes care of everybody. Those midnight phone calls are answered and he runs. What about vacations? Sure, he can get away but even then he answers the phone, gives support and whatever else he can from a distance, sometimes even coming back from vacation to help others.

Who takes care of the pastor? That would be my job. But I do not iron. Never unless you want extra wrinkles in your clothes. But I do try and assure that he has some down time for himself. Makes sure he is able to kiss the kids good-night, even if that is in the morning if we know he will be gone when they go to bed! The strangest part about being the pastor's wife is I am usually the last person to know something. I can't tell you how many times people assume I know they have been ill, hurt, or in need and I just look at them blankly. Unless they want me to know something, I am in the dark like most people.

So as the days are getting shorter, hot chocolate, trees changing, warm fuzzy clothes, and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING! Fall is a beautiful time to reflect on all these wonderful things. While you're taking the time to reflect and prepare for the cold months, let's reflect a little on our amazing clergy in our community. What have they done for you and our community?

October is National Pastor Appreciation Month. There are so many amazing ways to encourage your pastor. Do you know what brings tears to this wife's eyes? When members mention in conversation that they pray for your husband and the family. That is life touching.

So this month flood our community pastors with cards of encouragement. Tell them something special, something funny, something about how they have helped you in your spiritual walk with our amazing Savior.

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